Our HOA Wants to Raise Dues $60-80, But Won’t Provide the Detailed Financial Records — Why? New

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Summary:

As Hideaway prepares its 2027 budget, members are facing the possibility of another significant HOA dues increase. Figures ranging from $60 to $80 more per month have been discussed, although no final amount has been established and the budget has not yet been approved.

Before the Board asks members to contribute more money, I believe it needs to answer a much more important question: Why should we give the HOA even more money when it has not provided the detailed financial records showing how the money we've already paid has been spent?

Our own mandatory monthly HOA charges increased by $57.13 in 2026, approximately 20% over the previous year. That's nearly $700 more annually for our household. Across a community with approximately 1,800 memberships, a comparable increase could represent roughly $1.2 million in additional annual member billings.

Now consider what another increase could mean.

Possible monthly increase	Additional annual cost per household	Estimated additional annual HOA billings
$60	$720	$1,296,000
$70	$840	$1,512,000
$80	$960	$1,728,000

These estimates assume the increase applies equally to 1,800 memberships and do not represent confirmed revenue or approved budget figures.

That's a substantial amount of additional money to ask homeowners to contribute, particularly after the increases we've already experienced.

Yet despite repeated requests, we still have not received the detailed financial records we've been seeking. Hideaway publishes budgets and financial summaries, but those documents do not necessarily explain which vendors received payments, what contracts were negotiated, whether purchases were necessary, or exactly how Association funds were spent.

I'm also concerned about how the budget is being approached. Asking departments what they want or need and then increasing dues to fund those requests should not be the starting point. Responsible budgeting should begin by examining existing revenue, reviewing actual spending, identifying unnecessary expenses, and determining which projects can reasonably wait.

Hideaway already has a substantial initiation fee, and continuously increasing monthly dues may also make the community less attractive to prospective homeowners.

Nobody is suggesting that Hideaway should neglect essential services or necessary maintenance. But before members are asked to pay more, management should demonstrate that the money already collected has been handled responsibly.

If our HOA is considering collecting another $1.3 million to $1.7 million annually from members, shouldn't it first provide the detailed financial records showing where our existing money went?

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Before Asking Members for More Money, Show Us Where the Money Went

Hideaway is preparing its 2027 budget, and the possibility of another dues increase is becoming a serious concern. From what we understand, figures ranging from an additional $60 to $80 per month are being discussed. Although no final amount has been established and the budget has not been approved, even the lower end of that range would place another substantial financial burden on homeowners.

I understand that operating a community like ours is expensive. We have roads to maintain, lakes to care for, security services to provide, employees to pay, and facilities that require ongoing maintenance. Those responsibilities are important, and nobody is suggesting that Hideaway should stop funding necessary services.

But maintaining our community should also mean managing the money members already contribute as responsibly as possible.

Our monthly HOA charges increased significantly in 2026, and now we're discussing another increase without having received the detailed financial records we've repeatedly requested. Before the Board considers collecting even more money, shouldn't it first demonstrate how the money already collected has been spent?

That is the question at the center of this article.

Members Have Already Paid More. How Much More Does the HOA Need?

Our actual billing statements show that our mandatory monthly HOA charges increased by $57.13 in 2026, representing approximately a 20% increase over the previous year. That amounts to nearly $700 in additional annual charges for our household alone.

Members already know their bills have increased. What deserves greater attention is how much additional money these increases can represent across the entire community.

Using approximately 1,800 memberships, a comparable increase of $57.13 per month would represent roughly $1.2 million in additional annual member billings. Actual amounts may differ because memberships and charges are not necessarily identical, but the estimate illustrates how significant even a relatively small monthly increase can become.

Now consider what another increase could mean for 2027.

A $60 monthly increase would cost an affected household another $720 annually and could represent approximately $1.3 million in additional annual billings across 1,800 memberships.

Possible monthly increase	Additional annual cost per household	Estimated additional annual HOA billings
$60	$720	$1,296,000
$70	$840	$1,512,000
$80	$960	$1,728,000

Even so, the financial impact is substantial. Members could soon be paying hundreds of dollars more annually, on top of the increases that have already taken effect.

Before that happens, I believe the Board needs to explain why our existing revenue isn't sufficient and what it has done to control expenses.

Wasn't an Earlier Dues Increase Supposed to Be Temporary?

There is another question I believe deserves an answer before the Board considers increasing dues again.

My understanding, shared by other members, was that an earlier increase was intended to be temporary and related to the work needed to resurface our roads. We understood that the additional money was being collected to help address a particular problem, rather than permanently increase what members would pay every month.

The Association's own June 2025 committee records identify an $11 monthly member contribution being used to fund road resurfacing. Its October 2026 committee materials continue to discuss those monthly contributions toward roadwork.

Those records establish that members' money was being collected for road improvements, although they do not, by themselves, establish whether the Board made a formal commitment to end that contribution on a particular date.

But that raises an important question:
If members were told or led to understand that an increase was temporary, when is it supposed to end?

Here we are in October 2026, and I have not heard a clear proposal to reduce dues or an explanation of when that additional financial burden might be removed. Instead, we're discussing another potential increase for 2027.

I recognize that Hideaway's roads continue to require maintenance and resurfacing, and there may be legitimate reasons why work remains unfinished. If the original plan has changed, however, members deserve to understand why.

Was the temporary increase intended to last until a specific project was completed? Was there ever an established end date? How much of the money collected remains available for the original purpose? Has the Board considered reducing or eliminating any temporary charge before introducing another increase?

If an increase was always intended to become permanent, members should have been clearly informed. If circumstances have changed, those changes should be explained and documented.

What I do not believe is reasonable is for an increase understood to be temporary to simply continue without a clear explanation while another increase is considered.

A Budget Isn't the Same as an Accounting of What Was Actually Spent

Hideaway makes certain financial information available to members, including budgets and financial summaries. Those documents can provide a useful overview of the Association's finances, but they are not necessarily sufficient to understand how individual spending decisions were made.

A budget explains how management intends to allocate money. A financial summary generally reports spending by department or expense category. Neither necessarily identifies which vendors received payments, what contracts were negotiated, what specific items were purchased, or whether the Association received the goods and services it paid for.

Those details are important when members are being asked to contribute more money.

We have repeatedly requested detailed financial records through emails, certified correspondence, and discussions at HOA meetings. We are seeking the underlying documentation that would allow us to examine how our money is managed, including relevant contracts, invoices, payment records, and financial ledgers.

We still have not received the complete detailed records we've requested.

I want to be clear that we're not asking for confidential member information, protected employee records, or privileged legal communications. We understand that certain documents may be protected and that lawful redactions may be necessary.

Our concern is with the financial records that members have a right to inspect under applicable law and the Association's governing documents.

Texas Property Code §209.005 establishes procedures for requesting and inspecting qualifying Association books and records, including financial records, subject to the statute's requirements and exceptions.

When an HOA is considering asking members for potentially millions more in annual charges, access to detailed financial information becomes especially important. Members should be able to examine the records supporting management's financial decisions rather than having to rely entirely on summaries and assurances.

Why Is Raising Dues the Answer Instead of Controlling Expenses?

I also question the approach being taken toward preparing the 2027 budget.

The Association's October 2026 committee materials describe a needs-based budgeting process in which department managers identify their requirements and those recommendations are used to develop the proposed budget.

There is nothing inherently wrong with asking departments what they need. Management must know which equipment requires replacement, which facilities need repairs, and what services are necessary to maintain the community.

My concern is what happens after those requests are submitted.

If the process amounts to asking departments what they want or need, totaling those expenses, and increasing dues to make the budget work, I don't believe that is the most responsible way to manage members' money.

A budget should begin with an examination of existing revenue and how efficiently it has been used.

Management should compare actual spending with previous budgets, identify expenses that exceeded expectations, review existing contracts, and determine whether certain projects or purchases can reasonably wait.

Departments should be expected to justify their requests, especially when those requests could result in substantial increases to members' monthly bills.

If an expense is unavoidable, explain why. If equipment needs to be replaced, explain what is wrong with the existing equipment. If a contract has become significantly more expensive, show whether alternative vendors were considered.

And if a project is desirable but not essential, shouldn't delaying it be considered before increasing dues?

I understand that inflation, insurance premiums, labor costs, and necessary repairs can create financial challenges. But those challenges make careful budgeting more important, not less.

Before asking members to contribute more, the Board should demonstrate what steps it has taken to control spending and whether the Association can accomplish its priorities with the money it already receives.

Higher Dues Will Make Hideaway Less Attractive to Buyers

Another concern is how these continuing increases could affect Hideaway's ability to attract new homeowners.

Our community already requires a substantial initiation fee, and potential buyers must consider monthly HOA charges on top of the purchase price, property taxes, insurance, and ordinary homeownership expenses.

Increasing dues by another $60 to $80 per month could make Hideaway less affordable, particularly when buyers have other communities to choose from.

But I believe the financial burden is only part of the problem.

The way our HOA is managed, and how members are treated when they question its decisions, may also affect whether someone wants to live here.

Our family has experienced what we believe to be mismanagement and retaliatory treatment after raising concerns about HOA decisions. We have challenged an unexpected $500 charge connected to a delivery driver's traffic citation, questioned how our appeal was handled, and raised concerns about restrictions on our membership privileges and participation in the Association's official Facebook group.

We have documented these experiences because we believe they deserve examination and accountability. Other members have also shared concerns about how they have been treated when questioning the Association.

I am not suggesting that every disagreement with the Board constitutes retaliation or that every complaint automatically establishes misconduct. But when members describe feeling intimidated, excluded, or discouraged from speaking, those experiences deserve to be taken seriously.

What kind of impression does that give someone considering purchasing a home here?

Imagine being a potential buyer and learning that some residents feel they cannot openly question their HOA without worrying about how they might be treated afterward. Would that make you more comfortable investing in the community, or would it give you reason to look somewhere else?

I wouldn't blame someone for having second thoughts.

We have been told by people to stop speaking up, remain quiet, and avoid creating problems. I understand that some residents may prefer to stay out of disputes, particularly when they worry about how speaking up could affect their relationships or daily lives.

But silence is not the answer.
Silence allows problems to continue without scrutiny, and it makes meaningful accountability much harder to achieve.

I don't want Hideaway to become a community where residents feel they have to hide their concerns, keep their opinions to themselves, or simply accept decisions they believe are wrong.

That's not the kind of place I want my family to live, and it's certainly not the kind of community I would want to promote to prospective homeowners.

I want Hideaway to be a place where members feel comfortable attending meetings, asking financial questions, questioning Board decisions, and expecting respectful treatment in return.

I want a Board that welcomes reasonable questions instead of treating disagreement as a personal conflict. I want management to correct mistakes when they occur and explain decisions when members raise legitimate concerns.

Most importantly, I want members to know they can speak openly without fearing negative consequences simply because they disagree with those in charge.

Speaking publicly about these issues is not an attempt to damage Hideaway's reputation. I believe addressing problems is how we protect and improve that reputation.

Pretending concerns do not exist may make things appear quieter for a while, but it does not resolve them.

If the Board wants Hideaway to remain an attractive place to buy a home, it should consider more than the cost of membership. It should also consider whether current members feel respected, informed, and fairly treated.

A well-maintained golf course and beautiful lakes are important, but so is the confidence that the people managing the community will treat homeowners fairly.

I want to help make Hideaway a better place, not a place where people believe they must stay silent just to enjoy living here.

What Has Happened to the Money We've Already Paid?

This brings us back to the central question.

Our Association already collects substantial revenue from membership dues and other operations. Members have experienced a significant increase in their monthly charges, and the Board is now considering another increase that could result in approximately $1.3 million to $1.7 million in additional annual member billings, depending on the final amount and how widely it applies.

Before that happens, I believe members deserve an explanation of how existing funds have been managed.

Were certain departments over budget? Did the Association experience unexpected expenses? Were major contracts reviewed or renegotiated? Were projects completed within their approved amounts? Could some purchases or improvements have been postponed?

These are ordinary financial management questions.

I'm not suggesting that every expense is improper or that asking these questions establishes wrongdoing. There may be reasonable explanations for many of the Association's financial decisions.

But members should be able to examine the underlying documentation needed to evaluate those explanations.

Without that information, how can we determine whether additional dues are necessary or whether better management of existing resources could reduce the need for an increase?

And before increasing dues again, shouldn't the Board also explain what happened to the earlier increase that members understood was temporary?

Those questions deserve answers before another budget is finalized.

Before the 2027 Budget Is Approved, Members Deserve Answers

I believe the Board should provide members with a clear comparison of previous budgets and actual spending, an explanation of major expense increases, and documentation showing what management has done to control costs.

The Board should also address whether any previous increases were temporary, identify which projects those charges were intended to fund, and explain whether reducing dues has been considered.

Most importantly, the Association should respond appropriately to qualifying requests for detailed financial records so members can independently examine how their money has been spent.

If those records demonstrate that another increase is genuinely necessary, members can consider that information and make their own judgments.

But the Board should not expect members to accept an additional financial burden without first explaining why it is necessary.

There is also an opportunity here to address something much bigger than the budget. Management and the Board can work toward rebuilding confidence by answering questions, correcting mistakes, treating members fairly, and showing that disagreement does not have to become a conflict.

I believe Hideaway can be a wonderful place to live. That's why these issues matter to me and why I continue raising them despite being encouraged to remain quiet.

I want to help make it a place where people are proud to live, where their money is managed responsibly, and where they don't feel they have to stay silent to avoid problems.

Before asking us to pay another $60, $70, or $80 per month, the Board should answer a simple question:

Why should we give the HOA more money when it has not provided the detailed records showing how it spent what we already gave it?

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Sources and Supporting Documents

Hide-A-Way Lake Club — June 2025 Board and Committee Materials — The Roads and Drainage Committee report discusses road resurfacing and identifies an $11 monthly member contribution being used to fund planned roadwork. This supports the existence of the contribution but does not independently establish a promised expiration date.

Hideaway Board and Committee Materials

Hide-A-Way Lake Club — October 2026 Committee Reports — Finance Committee materials discuss the proposed 2027 needs-based budgeting process and continued monthly member contributions toward road resurfacing.

Hideaway Board and Committee Materials

Hide-A-Way Lake Club — Published Financial Information — The Association's publicly available budgets and financial summaries provide information about planned revenue and expenses. The illustrative estimates in this article are not presented as approved 2027 budget figures.

Hideaway Public Documents

Member HOA Billing Statements — 2025 and 2026 — Our preserved billing statements support the increase in our household's monthly charges. These statements are retained privately because they contain account information.

Texas Property Code §209.005 — Association Records — Establishes procedures for requesting and inspecting qualifying property owners' association records, including financial records, subject to applicable requirements and confidentiality exceptions.

Texas Property Code Chapter 209

Voices of Hideaway — Previously Published Investigations — Earlier articles document our family's account of the disputed delivery-driver fine, appeal hearing, and restrictions on participation in the Association's official Facebook group.

Voices of Hideaway